He did, and most people here are missing it. In Political Chess, McCain just pigeon-holed Obama, and has him in check.
Does Obama believe in COUNTRY FIRST? Or Campaigning first.
This post seems to sum up the schizophrenic reactions to the announcement. It was a brilliant political tactic to claim that the suspension wasn't political. Or, by announcing that politics should be put aside, McCain has politically outmaneuvered Obama and will garner a big political boost.
There's a risk that folks won't cotton to this kind of cynical spinning and will view the suspension as, well, just a political gimmick.
And it probably wasn't. What the Democrats don't seem to understand, is that Good Statesmanship is a devestatingly effective political tool, precisely because it raises the practitioner above mere politics into a Leadership role.
Modern politics is all about narcissists trying to seem statesmanlike long enough to fool a majority of people into voting for them. The ploy doesn't work when the chips are really down, though.
Well, the chips really are down, and Obama the narcissist is still down at the bar, trying to convince some drunk slut to go back to his place.